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Eyewitness Describes Moment Richard Hammond's Car Door 'Ripped Off'

Eyewitness Describes Moment Richard Hammond's Car Door 'Ripped Off'

It helped him escape quickly.

Mel Ramsay

Mel Ramsay

More information is coming to light following Richard Hammond's car accident while filming The Grand Tour.

An eyewitness has described the moment the vehicle crashed into a speed limit sign then span off into the field below before bursting into flames.

The witness told the Mirror: "He crashed into the speed limit sign and off the road into the field below. He went down the hill about five or six metres.

"I had been filming further down the road. The man next to me shouted it was a crash and ran. I ran, too, and looked down into the field. I could see bits of the car on the road and on the grass.

"I would have been there about 20 seconds after the crash. The car was already burning. I saw fire. It was at the front. The car had done a 180-degree turn.

"He was wearing red overalls and a white helmet, I think. There was a spectator who helped him. He supported him. He helped him get away from the car."


Credit: PA Images

The witness said that he believed that the car's door had been 'ripped off' during the accident. That then ensured that Hammond was able to escape quickly and efficiently.

"Ten seconds later and a fireman was already running down to the burning car," said the witness. "There were explosions, bangs - like fireworks. And dark smoke. Poisonous fumes from the burning plastics. We were then told to get right back. It only took about one minute for the whole car to be on fire.

"It was only later on that I realised the driver had been Richard Hammond. I was on the bus going back to the start to then go home and someone told me. I uploaded my video on YouTube and now more than 1.5 million have seen it. That's cool.

"I haven't seen any other footage. Richard had Go Pros in the car but I can't think they survived. I uploaded the video because I think it could help investigators. It might give them information they need to see what happened."


Credit: PA Images

He added: "I would like to talk to Richard Hammond . I would ask about his thoughts when he took that corner. I am a big Formula 1 fan and have always watched Top Gear as much as I can.

"But I had no idea it was Richard Hammond driving the car. I was videoing it because of the car."

Jeremy Clarkson Tweeted about the accident, explaining the magnitude of the incident.

He wrote: "It was the biggest crash I've ever seen and the most frightening but incredibly, and thankfully, Richard seems to be mostly OK."

Hammond has posted a video live from his hospital bed to show all his fans that he's fine. And, in typical Hamster style, he cracks a joke straight away.

He starts by saying: "Hello, and yes it's true - I've binned it... Again."

Credit: DriveTribe/Richard Hammond

He showed off his heavily braced leg, along with an x-ray of what's going to happen to it.

DriveTribe, a social media community for car lovers created by Clarkson, Hammond and James May, posted footage of the crash, which sees Hammond skid and lose control before falling off the road and down a hill.

The official account for The Grand Tour also Tweeted, putting out a statement as well as some pictures of the car.

The statement said: "Richard Hammond was involved in a serious crash after competing in the Hemburg Hill Climb in Switzerland in a Rimac Concept One, an electric super car built in Croatia, during filming for The Grand Tour season two. Fortunately [he] suffered no serious injury.

"Richard was conscious and talking, and climbed out of the car himself before it burst into flames. He was flown by Air Ambulance to hospital in St Gallen to be checked over revealing a fracture to his knee.

"Nobody else was in the car or involved in the accident, and we'd like to thank the paramedics on site for their swift response. The cause of the crash is unknown and being investigated."

Hammond was reportedly conscious and talking following the crash, and was able to pull himself from the burning vehicle. He's a lucky man.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: richard hammond, Crash, The Grand Tour, Top Gear